Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Hi People! How's your summer been?! Ours has been nice and cool. No heat waves! That is my kind of summer! Plus with all the rain, we have had a good blueberry year! The ground is blue in places!

This is "Kitty Floats" and this card is my offering for this month's Whimsy Inspirations Challenge, which is Anything Goes/optional: Dots. If you join in, you get a chance to win a Whimsy gift certificate! You must use a Whimsy image or paper on your card to qualify, but, they always have some on hand for FREE to anyone (no purchase necessary!) so no one is left out of the challenges!

They also have a customer appreciation stamp set available (a different one is offered each month) as a bonus if you do spend over 75$ on your order!

Sunday, August 13, 2017

If you have been following Whimsy Stamps, you may have seen this image before. It was out as a digital image in the last few years. Then, it went into the "vault". Well, good news! It is now being re-released in red rubber! This is your sneak peek, but you will find it in the Whimsy Store on Wed. August 16th by noon EST.

I coloured the image with Copics, and then went over some areas with Luminance coloured pencils.

Some of the designer paper is also from Whimsy. Pierced Stars are a Whimsy Die. You can find all the products here:

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

You may (or may not) remember this from last year's digital catalogue at Whimsy Stamps! This is "Touched By Love".

I used some of Tracy's gorgeous Christmas Tidings Paper as well as some from her Christmas Cheer pack at Whimsy. Both those packs can be found HERE. I coloured "Touched By Love" image with the following Copics: Skin: E00, 01, 11, 21, RV93, V91 (I also went over the flesh area a bit with some Prismacolour pencils, once I was done in Copics)Blonde: YR20, E44, 47Manger: E31, 33, 35, 37Ribbon: RV32, R56, 59, RV99, 0Holly: G21, 24, 94, YG61, 67Wings: E40, V91, E70, B60, 0Blanket: B60, BG90, V91Dress: BG90, V91A lot of people leave white objects un-coloured. But if you want to make the white of an image look closer to real life, there has to be some shading in there somewhere. I don't colour over the entire area, just the areas I think would be more in shadow. And since white is always reflecting the colour of things around it, you can use a variety of very light shades to get your white shadows.

Hi Folks! Another Christmas card today (I just got started!!!) I used my Christmas Spaniels set, and one of the three spaniels in the set, for the main image. She looks just like my Avro (who is now with Jesus!) so this set means a lot to me.

I coloured her with the following Copic markers:

YR20, 21, E30, 33, 34, 55, 57

R30, 32, 35, 37, 39, 89

G07, 28, with 0 blender to remove ink to make dots on the gift wrap

BV20, 23 and B0000 on the whites

W1, 3, 6 on the ground
The beautiful green starry paper and the striped paper are from Tracy's Christmas Tidings Set, a digital set of paper that you print at home, also from Whimsy Stamps. Snowflake is also a Whimsy die, and the Wonky Squares are from Spellbinders.

Monday, July 17, 2017

It's that time of year again... Christmas In July!! Whoo-hoot! People who know me know that if I had my 'druthers, it would be Christmas all year long. :-D

This one is showing off my digital snowman image, "Top o' the Mornin'"that Whimsy and I are offering FREE during the month of July, 2017, to anyone who wishes to use it for their hand made creations!
And do you see the Lighter blue panel with the white globes? That's also free paper right there, from a free pack of six designs by Tracy, called "Summer Love" paper! It's just gorgeous!
Other paper from Whimsy's actual paper pack, "Winter Wishes", also designed by the Fabulous Tracy Wray.

In case you haven't been playing along, we have a challenge every month at Whimsy Stamps; all you must do is create something using a Whimsy product (we provide free product if you haven't got anything Whimsy-cal yet, so you have no excuse not to play with us!) and if you enter, you also get into the monthly draw for a gift cert to the Whimsy Store. Can't beat that, can you?

This month is it "Anything Goes (as it always is!) With the Option of "Holidays". (and of course, you know me by now, I am going to take that option to celebrate Christmas Holidays any chance I can get!!!)

Friday, July 7, 2017

Hi Peeps! Here's a Hallowe'en card I made for my grand daughter! I am giving you all a sneak-peak at a rubber stamp that will soon-be-released at Whimsy Stamps! Keep your eyes peeled at the store for this one, it is coming soon!

I coloured "Penguin Trick Or Treat" with the following Copic markers (plus one Prismacolour Marker):

Left Penguin black: C1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 0

Middle penguin black: N1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 0

Right penguin black: W1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 0

I used different greys so that the penguins would be able to be distinguished from each other where ever the blacks of each penguin were adjacent.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Yup, it's that time of year again (for stampers and card makers who want to get a head start on their Christmas cards!)

This is my "Santa With Toys" digital image which was just released this week at Whimsy! The light aqua sheet was what I got from printing a photo I had of an old door with peeling paint! The dark turquoise layer is from Tracy's "Mint Green Dark" and the grey layer is from her "When In Paris" set.

Hi Peeps! I have a new set of digital images just released at Whimsy this week! This is one of them, "Penguin Swings". The remainder of the new release is pictured below. They can all be found at Whimsy in their digital section HERE.

I coloured "Penguin Swings" with the following Copic markers, as well as a couple of Prismacolour pens and a Premier pen:

Beak and Feet: YR12, 14, 16, 24, 27

Blacks: C1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Whites: PM Cream, E40, 41, E70, 0

Flower Centre: Y35, YR16, 24

Top: BG32, 34, 72

Hat band: BG10, 11, 32, 72

Hat: PM Cream, Premier Eggshell, E70, E40, PM Oatmeal

Daisy petals: E42

Swing seat: T4, 2

I also used some of Whimsy's digital papers from (my own!) "Distressed Polka Dots", as well as Tracy's "Hot Stuff"and "Mint Green Dark". Digital Paper packs found at Whimsy HERE.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Here is Penguin Beach Chair, one of my new rubber images to kick off Summer! You gotta have some days like this, with your toes in the sand, shades on your face, and just sitting back in a beach chair with a cool drink in your hand, soaking up some rays and listening to the waves! It is a Canadian summer must-do!

I coloured it with the following Copic and Prismacolour alcohol markers:

Reds: R14, 24, 27, 29, 39

Whites: BV20, B0000, C0, 1, PM Cream, E40

Blacks: C1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 0

Feet and beak: YR12, 14, 24, 27, E97, 99

Cup: BG10, 11, 70

Sand: PM Cream, E40, 31, 43, 44

Wood chair frame: E50, 51, 53, 55

Blue chair seat: B23, 24, 37

Little umbrella: R20, 21, 22

Sun shades: E13, 09, 0

I used the Brush Script Lower Case die to create the word "happy". I love that die because I can make any sentiment I want with it! There is also an Upper Case die if you want to capitalize your words. SO VERSATILE!!!

I also used some digital paper from Tracy Wray, she makes the most beautiful papers I've ever seen!

There is a challenge on right now hosted by Whimsy, and there's always a prize that goes to one of the participants! You could win a gift cert to the Whimsy Store if you participate. You must use a Whimsy image, BUT, you don't have to purchase one if you don't have anything Whimsy-cal! You just have to go grab your FREE WHIMSY PRODUCT(S) from THIS LINK and then you are good to enter the challenge!!! Of course, if you already have Whimsy images or papers, you are already set to go! You can find the challenge blog HERE.

ALSO, don't forget Whimsy is now offering a free clear stamp set if your order total is over 75$ (excluding taxes)! The free set changes each month. This is what is offered for the month of June:

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Hi all! This is "Maya Blowing Bubbles", a re-dux of an old digi I had out a while ago, but newly re-released at Whimsy.
I coloured her on Hammermill 100 lb paper with the following Copics:
Pants: YG11, 61, 93
Shirt: RV00, 52, E04
Skin: E11, 13, 15, 17, 0
Lips and feet E11 and R20
Bubble Container: RV04, 17, 19, 00, E04, RV52, B12
Bubbles: B00, RV00
Hair: E11, 13, 15, 17, 47
I also usedStitched Border Die Trio from Whimsy, as well as the gorgeous digital paper: Pink Pop and Soft Spring Greens

Whimsy has an amazing deal on for the month of June. If you purchase products totalling $75 or more (before taxes) you will qualify for this free stamp (pictured below right) set designed by Tracy Wray! Isn't that fantastic?? Go shop at Whimsy now!!

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Hi Peeps! It is June the first and that means it is Release Day over at Whimsy Stamps, where you will see a whole new line-up of digital images, sentiments and papers to choose from! (It also happens to be my birthday, yay!) Today I am showing you one of my latest, "Penguin Flies". I also used digital paper from Over The Rainbow pack, as well as a sentiment from Various Occasions 2. All of the paper and images are digital, and I had fun layering them in my Pages program to create a one-layer card! I also used the "Stitched Clouds" die from Whimsy as well.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Hi Peeps! How is it going?! I have a new rubber image to share with you today, new in the store this week. It is "Penguin Pool Party"! This image brings back some pretty fun memories of playing in the water on hot summer days. I know we aren't there yet with the weather (at least, not where I live!), but we will get there soon enough!

The gorgeous papers are from some of the digital collections at Whimsy Stamps. I used some from "Soft Spring Greens", and also "Blue and Pink Mix", and you can find these and other beautiful digital paper selections at Whimsy HERE.

I coloured Penguin Pool Party with the following Copics:

Blacks: W1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0

Hose: G02, 07, YG45

Bathing Suit: RV07, 09, 19

Pool: B00 all over and then RV02, RB10, BV20, 23, for shading. Also 0 for highlights.

Monday, May 8, 2017

I had a lot of fun with this card. I used Goldfish Gertie and Goldfish Gunther digital images, as well as digital paper from the set, "Deep Sea". The sentiment is also digital, from the Fish Sentiments (what a cute set!). This is relatively CAS as far as card construction goes. It is really all on one layer, because all my layers are "virtual", done on the computer before I printed it out! The colouring is actual though, done with Copic markers, after I printed the background paper. Here are the links to the products used: Goldfish Gertie

Listen, I have some exciting news to share (about you, not me!) so take a look at what Denise had to say about giving back to her customers at Whimsy!~

Drumroll please…INTRODUCING Whimsy Stamps NEW Customer Appreciation Stamp set program! Our CAS set program is the pinnacle of our Attitude of Gratitude campaign and we’re SO EXCITED to be able to offer it to YOU our amazing customers! Starting May 8th and once per month thereafter, we will release an EXCLUSIVE NEW 4x6 clear stamp for FREE to anyone who places a retail order of $75 or more in the Whimsy Stamps store (excludes digital items, tax and shipping)!

Our May CAS set is now available, it's called Paws to Remember, and is designed by our newest Whimsy Illustrator and Creative Director Deb Davis (who has a new blog coming 5/17). Paws to Remember is also the first set of our NEW Rainbow Bridge stamp series and will coordinate beautifully with sets from our May release, due out May 17th. #whimsystamps

Monday, May 1, 2017

Hey!! Hello there! It is Release Day at Whimsy Stamps for new Digital products! I have "Penguin Rainy Day" to show you today. I printed it atop the beautiful digi paper, "April Showers" by Tracy Wray. I reduced the boldness of the lines so that they were very faint (they call that the "no-lines" look!). I coloured the image with the following Copic markers:

Blacks: C2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Blender 0

Yellows: Y13, 15, 19, 26, V93, 95

Duck: Y04, E40, V91, BV20

Whites: E40, V91, BV20

Umbrella: RV42, 32, V91

Beaks and duck feet: YR12, 21, 14, 27

Water puddle: BG0000, 000, YR21, Y13, C2

I really like the way the image pops when it is printed atop the digi paper! I want to do this method again for sure.

Did you know that Whimsy now has a portion of their catalogue called, "Attitude of Gratitude" which has digital freebies for Whimsy fans? Those free digital items will also come in handy if you don't have any Whimsy products and you want to join the monthly Challenges.

There is a fifteen dollar shopping certificate for the Whimsy Store that goes to one lucky winner of the monthly challenge, so get in on your chance to win by participating (see all the details at the Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenge Blog)

Monday, April 24, 2017

I coloured the image on Hammermill 100 lb paper with Copics. It has become my favourite paper for Copic markers, allowing me to layer with ease.

I used a Spellbinders circle die to cut out the image layer.

My paper background is actually a couple of digi sheets, one of which I "cut" virtually in my photo program into a circle (the light pink circle) and layered it atop the beautifully designed darker pink layer. The light pink is from "Mint Green Light" digital pack, and the darker pink is from "Mint Green Dark" digital paper pack. So even though it was two sheets of digital paper, I only used one paper for printing, because I layered them virtually!

The Pages program made it easy to automatically centre the light pink circle overtop the dark pink background layer. Then all I had to do was hit "print" and voila, it was done! Did I tell you that I LOVE using digital papers now?! SO easy and SO versatile and no more paper scraps or having to store paper pads! It is all "virtual" and when you print it at the exact size you want, there is no waste! Tracy Wray over at Whimsy makes the most beautiful designer paper I have ever seen... so she keeps me very, very happy with her designs! The only caveat is that it does take a lot of printer ink; however, what you spend on printer ink you save from not having to buy actual paper pads - much of which you don't end up using, and then you have to decide how to purge it from your craft supplies. Yes, I am a big fan of digital paper!

Monday, April 17, 2017

I coloured the image with Copics and then I went over most of it with coloured pencil, just for fun, to add to the overall effect! For the Penguin Blacks I used:

C1, 2, 3. 4. 5, 6. 8

Whites: E50, 40,41, V93, 95

Kitties: YR12, 14, 27, R30 noses and inner ears

Feet and beak - same as the kittens, although I added E37 and 39 too.

I used some gorgeous digital papers on this one, from "Pet Papers 2" as well as "Blue Bell Bliss". And if you notice the floral die cut panel - that is the New Cherry Blossom die panel; both the papers and the die cut are designed by Tracy Wray of Whimsy Stamps. I just adore her work and if you haven't seen any of her paper line or dies and now stamps too, you really need to check them out at Whimsy. She's phenomenal!

I used Copic White on the embellishments and around the edges of some of the layers.

The pine cones were found in my front yard!

I coloured the image with the following Copics:

Blacks: N1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 0

Ear and pads: R30, E04, BV20

Fur: E21, 23, 53, 55, 74

Beak and Feet: YR12 E35, 37, 39

Whites: E70, V95 E50, B60

Don't forget to check out the month-long challenges that Whimsy is now having- they offer a free image to use (if you don't have any other Whimsy products already) and if you join in using a Whimsy image or paper (either from your own stash or using the freebies offered) you get a chance to win a 15$ gift voucher for Whimsy Stamps!! What are you waiting for!?

Ashley, Valerie and Janet May 2011

Nik and Alla (daughter-in-love)

Me and my Dad, Ray Gauvreau. RIP Dad xo

R.I.P Avro. I still miss you!

R.I.P. Spitfire. You are missed so much!

About Me

I love to draw and make cards and share those creations here. I also love to do video or still picture tutorials whenever I can.
Right now I am drawing illustrations for Whimsy Stamps which they sell as rubber stamp images, mostly to people who make hand made cards, but also to scrapbookers and other paper crafters. They have also re-opened their digital portion of the store, and so I also have a line of digital images with them. I work from home in lovely Canada where I live with my husband Mike. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and I live to love Him. He is the Master Artist; all I have to do is look into my husband's eyes, or my kids faces to see some of His best work. I hope you have a pleasant visit here, and perhaps find some inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!